Nelle Harper Lee (April 28, 1926 – February 19, 2016) the American novelist well known for "To Kill a Mockingbird", published in 1960, has died. Her book won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize and has become a classic. Even though Lee had only published this book, in 2007 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for literature.Truman Capote was the basis for the character Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird. The story of To Kill a Mockingbird are loosely based on Lee's family and neighbors, and events that occurred near her hometown in 1936. It examines racism and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. Another novel, Go Set a Watchman, was written in the mid-1950s and published in July 2015 as a "sequel". Nelle Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama, where she was raised. Her parents were Frances Cunningham (Finch) and Amasa Coleman Lee.Lee died in her sleep on the morning of February 19, 2016, aged 89. She lived in Monroeville, Alabama. See the Full Movie of the book Below:

The famous philosopher and best-selling author, has died Umberto Eco. He was an internationally-renowned Italian philosopher and became an author of best-selling novels. He was aged 84, according to AFP/Yahoo7. He is well-known for his 1980 historical mystery novel The Name of the Rose, which has been translated into more than 40 languages. Eco died late Friday Feb. 19, 2016, after a long battle with cancer. The Name of the Rose was adapted for the big screen by Jean-Jacques Annaud in 1986, starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater, and has sold millions of copies. Eco, continued to write Foucault's Pendulum (1988), about the lost treasure of a sect called the Knights Templar, The Island of the Day Before (1994), Baudolino (2000) and The Prague Cemetery (2010), a novel about the rise of modern anti-Semitism. Eco was born in 1932 at Alessandria in the northern Italian region of Piedmont. His family name was an acronym of the Latin ex caelis oblatus, "a gift from the heavens", which was given to his grandfather. The young Umberto had a Roman Catholic upbringing. He entered the University of Turin to study medieval philosophy and literature. His thesis, for which he was awarded a degree in 1954, was on the topic of Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican.In September 1962 he married Renate Ramge, a German art teacher with whom he had a son and a daughter. In 1956 he published his first work, The Aesthetics of Thomas Aquinas an extension of his doctoral thesis. Please pray for his soul.

If you register and pay in full by March 1st, you'll receive Early Bird tuition rates for this summer's Church Music Association of America Colloquium. The Colloquium is to be held in St. Louis, MO, at the St. Louis City Center Hotel, June 20 - June 25, 2016.

Three Great venues: the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, the Shrine of St. Joseph, andPro-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and Apostle.

Are you a composer? Plan to participate in our New Music breakouts with David Hughes.

Sing Mozart, Palestrina or a variety of motets in your chosen polyphonic choir. There is also a beginning polyphonic choir again this year, which will sing a motet later in the week. See all the details and begin making your choir selections now.NEW! Repertory Listing Uploaded to our Website!

Islamic State claims bomb attacks in Damascus and Homs: 140 dead

The southern suburb of Sayyida Zeinab hit in the capital, home to most important Shiite temple in the country. In Homs Alawite districts loyal to the president targeted. Assad appeals to refugees, inviting them to return to Syria. US and Russia announce a "provisional agreement" for a partial truce.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) – The death toll from a series of bomb attacks yesterday in Damascus, the capital of Syria, and the city of Homs has risen to 140 people. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which targeted the southern suburb of Sayyida Zeinab in the capital, killing about 83 people. Earlier, two car bombs had exploded in Homs killing 57 people, mostly civilians.

Both areas of yesterday’s attacks are inhabited mostly by non-Sunni Muslim minorities, subjected to Daesh [Arabic acronym for the IS]violence and persecution of in Syria and Iraq.

While the Islamic State continues to sow violence and terror, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has appealed to all refugees who have fled the country telling them that they should not be afraid to come home. Long accused of persecuting his own people, the Syrian leader stressed that those who have left the nation "for the drastic deterioration of living conditions" are free to return without any fear of reprisal from the government. "We want people - said Assad – to take refuge in Syria."

The war in Syria flared up in March 2011 after a popular protest motion against President Bashar al-Assad was transformed into a widespread conflict with extremist Islamic tendencies and jihadist movements. Thus far it has caused over 260 thousand deaths.

It has also given rise to one of the worst humanitarian crisis in history, forcing 4.6 million Syrians to seek shelter abroad, especially in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Hundreds of thousands have tried to reach Europe, crossing the Mediterranean at the cost of their lives.

According to reports from Sana state agency yesterday’s explosions in Sayyida Zeinab caused 83 deaths and 178 injured. The southern Damascus district is the most important Shiite shrine in the country, which houses the remains of the great-grandson of the prophet Muhammad. Local sources said that the bombers detonated a car bomb, then activated explosive belts.

Already last month the district suffered attacks that killed 71 people, again at the hands of IS jihadists. Explosions in Homs, once considered the "capital of the revolution" have targeted the majority Alawite district, the sect of origin of the Assad family. The rebels left the city this year as a result of a cease fire agreement, leaving the area in the hands of government soldiers.

Meanwhile on the diplomatic front, the US Secretary of State John Kerry has announced the achievement of an "interim agreement" with Russia for a partial truce. However, there are still many unresolved issues and there are few expectations of immediate changes on the ground. Earlier this month the world powers involved in the crisis in Syria had agreed on a "cessation of hostilities", but the 19 February deadline passed without any tangible results. Shared from AsiaNewsIT

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for the Feast of the Chair of Peter in St. Peter's Basilica - AFP

22/02/2016 11:13

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has told members of the Curia to tend to their flocks with generosity and mercy and has urged them to become a ‘model’ for all.

The Pope was speaking during his homily at Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Monday morning, as he celebrated the Feast of the Chair of Peter and the Jubilee of Mercy for the Roman Curia and all the Institutions related to the Holy See.

Before participating in the Mass, all those present gathered in the Paul VI Hall for a meditation on the theme "Mercy in our everyday life", and together with the Holy Father walked in procession through the Holy Door and into the Basilica.

“Pastors are first of all required – the Pope said – to have God himself who takes care of his flock as a model.”

He reminded them that God goes in search of the lost sheep, re-conducts them to the fold, cares for the wounded and heals the sick ones.

“This kind of behavior is the sign of love that knows no boundaries. It is faithful, constant, unconditional dedication, so that even the weakest may be reached by His mercy” he said.

And Pope Francis also urged those present to cultivate and practice a strong pastoral attitude within all Vatican work environments, “especially towards the people we meet every day”.

“May no one – he said – feel neglected or mistreated, may everyone experience the loving care of the Good Shepherd”.

(Vatican Radio) It’s time for another dose of the “spiritual medicine” Misericordin. Following the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Francis offered the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square the gift of a small box, designed to look like a box of medicine, containing a small Rosary and an image of the Merciful Jesus.“Lent is a good time to complete a journey of conversion, that has mercy at its centre,” the Pope said. He invited the faithful to “welcome this gift as a spiritual aid in order, especially during this Year of Mercy, to spread love, forgiveness, and brotherhood.” It is the second time Pope Francis has offered Misericordin to the faithful. In November of 2013, the Pope encouraged the faithful to use the “spiritual medicine” in order “to make concrete the fruits of the Year of Faith” which was coming to an end. On both occasions, the gifts were distributed by volunteers, including homeless people, refugees, and the poor.

Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, ApostleLectionary: 535

Reading 11 PT 5:1-4

Beloved:I exhort the presbyters among you,as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christand one who has a share in the glory to be revealed.Tend the flock of God in your midst,overseeing not by constraint but willingly,as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly.Do not lord it over those assigned to you,but be examples to the flock.And when the chief Shepherd is revealed,you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Responsorial PsalmPS 23:1-3A, 4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose;Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sideWith your rod and your staffthat give me courage.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;And I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come.R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Verse Before The GospelMT 16:18

You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church;the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

GospelMT 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippihe asked his disciples,“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter said in reply,“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.And so I say to you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my Church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

From the earliest times the Church at Rome celebrated on 18 January the memory of the day when the Apostle held his first service with the faithful of the Eternal City. According to Duchesne and de Rossi, the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (Weissenburg manuscript) reads as follows: "XV KL. FEBO. Dedicatio cathedræ sci petri apostoli qua primo Rome petrus apostolus sedit" (fifteenth day before the calends of February, the dedication of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle in which Peter the Apostle first sat at Rome). The Epternach manuscript (Codex Epternacensis) of the same work, says briefly: "cath. petri in roma" (the Chair of Peter in Rome).In its present (ninth-century) form the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" gives a second feast of the Chair of St. Peter for 22 February, but all the manuscripts assign it to Antioch, not to Rome. Thus the oldest manuscript, that of Berne, says: "VIII kal. mar. cathedræ sci petri apostoli qua sedit apud antiochiam". The Weissenburg manuscript says: "Natl [natale] sci petri apostoli cathedræ qua sedit apud antiocia." However, the words qua sedit apud antiochiam are seen at once to be a later addition. Both feasts are Roman; indeed, that of 22 February was originally the more important. This is clear from the Calendar of Philocalus drawn up in the year 354, and going back to the year 311; it makes no mention of the January feast but speaks thus of 22 February: "VIII Kl. Martias: natale Petri de cathedra" (eighth day before the Calends of March, the birthday [i.e. feast] of the Chair of Peter). It was not until after the insertion of Antioch in the copies of the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" that the feast of February gave way in importance to that of January. The Roman Church, therefore, at an early date celebrated a first and a second assumption of the episcopal office in Rome by St. Peter. This double celebration was also held in two places, in the Vatican Basilica and in a cemetery (coemeterium) on the Via Salaria. At both places a chair (cathedra) was venerated which the Apostle had used as presiding officer of the assembly of the faithful. The first of these chairs stood in the Vatican Basilica, in the baptismal chapel built by Pope Damasus; the neophytes in albis (white baptismal robes) were led from the baptistery to the pope seated on this ancient cathedra, and received from him the consignatio, i.e. the Sacrament of Confirmation. Reference is made to this custom in an inscription of Damasus which contains the line: "una Petri sedes, unum verumque lavacrum" (one Chair of Peter, one true font of baptism). St. Ennodius of Pavia (d. 521) speaks of it thus ("Libellus pro Synodo", near the end): "Ecce nunc ad gestatoriam sellam apostolicæ confessionis uda mittunt limina candidatos; et uberibus gaudio exactore fletibus collata Dei beneficio dona geminantur" (Behold now the neophytes go from the dripping threshold to the portable chair of the Apostolic confession; amid abundant tears called forth by joy the gifts of Divine grace are doubled). While therefore in the apse of the Vatican Basilica there stood a cathedra on which the pope sat amid the Roman clergy during the pontifical Mass, there was also in the same building a second cathedra from which the pope administered to the newly baptized the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Chair of St. Peter in the apse was made of marble and was built into the wall, that of the baptistery was movable and could be carried. Ennodius calls the latter a gestatoria sedes; throughout the Middle Ages it was always brought on 22 February from the above-mentioned consignatorium or place of confirmation to the high altar. That day the pope did not use the marble cathedra at the back of the apse but sat on this movable cathedra, which was, consequently, made of wood. The importance of this feast was heightened by the fact that 22 February was considered the anniversary of the day when Peter bore witness, by the Sea of Tiberias, to the Divinity of Christ and was again appointed by Christ to be the Rock of His Church. According to very ancient Western liturgies, 22 February was the day "quo electus est 1. Petrus papa" (on which Peter was first chosen pope). The Mass of this feast calls it at the beginning: "solemnitatis prædicandæ dies præcipue nobilis in quo . . . . beatus Bar-Jona voce Redemptoris fide devotâ prælatus est et per hanc Petri petram basis ecclesiæ fixus est", i.e. this day is called especially praiseworthy because on it the blessed Bar-Jona, by reason of his devout faith, was raised to pre-eminence by the words of the Redeemer, and through this rock of Peter was established the foundation of the Church. And the Oratio (collect) says: "Deus, qui hodiernâ die beatum Petrum post te dedisti caput ecclesiæ, cum te ille vere confessus sit" (O God, who didst this day give us as head of the Church, after Thyself, the Blessed Peter, etc.).The second of the aforementioned chairs is referred to about 600 by an Abbot Johannes. He had been commissioned by Pope Gregory the Great to collect in special little phials oil from the lamps which burned at the graves of the Roman martyrs (see CATACOMBS; MARTYR) for the Lombard queen, Theodolinda. According to the manuscript list of these oils preserved in the cathedral treasury of Monza, Italy, one of these vessels had on it the statement: "oleo de sede ubi prius sedit sanctus Petrus" (oils from the chair where St. Peter first sat). Other ancient authorities describe the site as "ubi Petrus baptizabat" (where Peter baptized), or "ad fontes sancti Petri; ad Nymphas sancti Petri" (at the fountain of Saint Peter). Formerly this site was pointed out in the coemeterium majus (principal cemetery) on the Via Nomentana; it is now certain that it was on the Via Salaria, and was connected with the coemeterium, or cemetery, of Priscilla and the villa of the Acilii (Acilii Glabriones), situated above this catacomb. The foundation of this villa, showing masonry of a very early date (opus reticulatum), still exists. Both villa and cemetery, in one of whose burial chambers are several epitaphs of members of the family, or gens, of the Acilii, belong to the Apostolic Period. It is most probable that Priscilla, who gave her name as foundress to the catacomb, was the wife of Acilius Glabrio, executed under Domitian. There is hardly any doubt that the site, "ubi prius sedit sanctus Petrus, ubi Petrus baptizabat" (where Saint Peter first sat, where Peter baptized), should be sought, not in an underground cubiculum (chamber) in the catacombs, but in an oratory above ground. At least nothing has been found in the oldest part of the cemetery of Priscilla now fully excavated, referring to a cathedra, or chair.The feast of the Cathedra Petri was therefore celebrated on the Via Salaria on 18 January; in the Vatican Basilica it was observed on 22 February. It is easy to believe that after the triumph of Christianity the festival could be celebrated with greater pomp in the magnificent basilica erected by Constantine the Great over the confessio, or grave of Peter, than in a chapel far distant from the city on the Via Salaria. Yet the latter could rightly boast in its favour that it was there Saint Peter first exercised at Rome the episcopal office ("ubi prius sedit sanctus Petrus", as Abbot Johannes wrote, or "qua primo Rome petrus apostolus sedit", as we read in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum" at 18 January). This double festival of the Chair of St. Peter is generally attributed to a long absence of the Apostle from Rome. As, how ever, the spot, "ubi s. Petrus baptizabat, ubi prius sedit" was distant from the city, it is natural to think that the second feast of the cathedra is connected with the opening of a chapel for Christian worship in the city itself. Catholic Encyclopedia

“The Original Image of Divine Mercy: Untold Story of an Unknown Masterpiece” a film about Divine Mercy for the Year of Mercy! It even has guest appearances by famous Catholics including comedian Jim Gaffigan, musician Harry Connick Jr., author George Weigel and Los Angeles’ Bishop Robert Barron, and Cardinal Schoeborn. The film Divine Mercy explores the only Image ever seen by nun Saint Faustina — at her convent in Vilnius, Lithuania, which inspired the image and the Divine Mercy devotion. Painted by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski starting in 1934, the artwork was made to go into hiding when the anti-Catholic Soviet Union occupied Vilnius. According to the documentary, it was stolen, smuggled and even rolled up for storage. Finally, two nuns accepted the “mission impossible” and brought the miraculous painting across the dangerous border between Lithuania and Belarus. In 2005, after 75 years of wandering, the painting was placed in a permanent home in a beautiful shine in Vilinius, according to the wishes of Saint Faustina and [her confessor] Blessed Fr. Michal Sapocko. In the film, Connick says, “This painting is an attempt to make the unfathomable fathomable.” Says Gaffigan: “Obviously, she saw God.” Parishes and other organizations can book screenings of the film. Edited from http://www.divinemercyfilm.com/